Question: AR or Old-School?

[chicharrones]

That's pretty! I like that a lot

I fixed the video link. Much better now.

 

[BigBore44]

I’m sorry. But you aren’t considering an AR. You did everything but banish them, and EVERYONE ELSES, to the scrap heap after LV.

However, I’m a forgiving person. Even for liberals. So I suggest a levergun. They’re my weapon of choice for all things not long range.

 

[herrwalther]

You will be very happy in both. I was Infantry for 8 years and I "swore off" ARs for awhile too. After I got out I missed cleaning an AR and missed my M4 and my long barrel M16 DMR. Like you, I have plenty of AR accessories and parts left over from uniform days. My mood is to take the best parts of my service M4 and my DMR and change the parts I didn't like. I have a few parts left I want to replace on my rifle eventually. As of right now it is a functional rifle that shoots just fine if I needed it.

I also have a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington. Great hunting rifle for where I am. I can shoot down any 4 legged creature I run across to put on the table and freezer.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I'm not sure what a 'western style" gun is. Is that the old west lever gun? An AR is a gen x and millennial rifle. I've never owned one but I've shot a few. I shoot with a guy who owns several high end AR's and I'm not convinced they are anything special. They generally aren't as accurate as a bolt gun but they are reliable and these days cost about the same as a good bolt rifle,$600. If you think you may need a semi-auto rifle for SHTF situations than an AR is the rifle for you. Personally I don't see that happening so I don't own one.

.223 is not a good medium sized game cartridge. It's illegal in some states like the one I live in. Scratch it off of your list. If you want versatile you need to move up to something bigger. I shoot a lot of .223 but I don't hunt. If I did and I were looking at your requirements I would choose a bolt rifle in a common cartridge like 7.62 x 39. That stuff is everywhere now. Look at a Ruger American.

 

[Danoobie]

I'm a fan of the Marlin levers. I'd throw my ARs in the pond before I gave up my
lever guns. To me, they just look and feel right.

 

[jonnyc]

You might find an AR in .300 Blackout fits your bill. Ammo is getting cheaper every day.

 

[Rocketmedic]

I fondled a Marlin 336 today. I think it'll be the one

 

[KansasSasquatch]

If you're really worried about not being able to own an AR because you may move to an unfriendly state and you want a cheap rifle, the Axis you mentioned isn't a bad choice. I have an Edge (same rifle as an Axis) that I bought used for $220 that came with a Rifle Basix trigger installed. I've never been bothered by the factory Axis trigger but shooting a lot of Mosins has me accustomed to truly crappy triggers. But man, that Rifle Basix trigger is sweeeeeet compared to the factory Axis trigger. I found a great deal on a barely used scope and put a decent bi-pod on it. It's one of my favorite guns to shoot. I just wish they had 10 round magazines for it and that magazine weren't $40 each. But I have seen a few people modifying the factory mags.

 

[Ironicaintit]

The 336 was introduced in '48.... Only 15 years prior to the AR15s introduction.

Not exactly old school, relatively speaking.

Why not a Marlin 39? Introduced in 1891, it was old school, before it was cool. And like you've said before, there's really nothing you can't do with a 22.

They really are neat little carbines, to boot.

 

[Rocketmedic]

The 336 was introduced in '48.... Only 15 years prior to the AR15s introduction.

Not exactly old school, relatively speaking.

Why not a Marlin 39? Introduced in 1891, it was old school, before it was cool. And like you've said before, there's really nothing you can't do with a 22.

They really are neat little carbines, to boot.

I've already got a Henry 22 carbine, its a blast. Just looking to keep a centerfire gun too for hog hunting, etc (or my shotgun...)

 

[someguy2800]

A marlin 336 really sounds like it fits the bill for you. I would look around to see if you can find an older one. If your going to shoot it at the range alot something in 7.62x39 would cut the ammo costs by about 2/3rds. An SKS or a ruger american ranch in 7.62x39 sounds like it fits your liking.

 

[Rocketmedic]

I’m sorry. But you aren’t considering an AR. You did everything but banish them, and EVERYONE ELSES, to the scrap heap after LV.

However, I’m a forgiving person. Even for liberals. So I suggest a levergun. They’re my weapon of choice for all things not long range.

There is a lot of reluctance to get an AR for this reason- they are perceived as being more aggressive and apt to be misused, and I really don't see a reason for one.

 

[Sam1911]

I really don't see a reason for one.

Yeah... I mean it would be hard to come up with a reason for one...though somebody could put together a little list like this one.

I have seen the steep decrease in prices and the popularity of the platform, and I do feel some nostalgia for the old days and 'my' M4. Watching a couple of new shooters utterly fail to understand how to run an AR-15 and helping them to clear a double-feed brought back memories and made me want one again. I've already set about the task of retiring my Mosin from its centerfire-rifle position, because it's a little too much for anything less than hunting and ammunition is starting to dry up for it, and I want something more Western. This rifle ought to fill the following criteria:
-Be less than 0.30cal (because of noise, cost and weight). Exception for 30-30, because that's a common round.
-Be affordable, meaning less than $500.
-Be not in some weird caliber that is only loaded once a decade by a lumberjack commando gunsmith in Montana from bear teeth- meaning .223/5.56 or .243 or 30-30 or something really common. .223 is ideal.
-Easily accessorized with fiberoptic iron sights, optics, and a light.
-Light in recoil, easy to learn and shoot, and non-punishing (the biggest strike against the Mosin)

It doesn't have to do home defense in the apartment because that's what the .45 and shotguns are for, but it is a consideration (and yes, I know this points squarely at an AR in most of the country)


The Pros:
On a practical level, I also know how to run an AR quite well and what it's capable of, and I respect the platform and its capabilities a lot. I could see myself enjoying range days with an AR, and I do trust it in practically any situation to function as designed. I trust my life and family with an AR-15 because it's a well-engineered and effective weapon. Plus, it's Tactical Man Barbie Playset. There's a lot one can do with an AR. I've got the cleaning kits, the mags, a few pouches, the training and I know how to maintain it well.

Are you this conflicted about everything in life? How do you ever manage to pick a breakfast cereal?

Every time there's a high profile shooting you come on here and tell us all that we need to feel guilty, our guns and our callous attitudes are to blame for such things, and we should be happy and willing to turn them all in. That nobody needs to have such a thing. That we're all doomed to be buried under the crush of negative public opinion and we really need to join in with the gun ban crowd and compromise by giving up our rights to these evil devices.


But hey, they're really good in all these ways and you really want one.

But NO, you'd turn it in at the first opportunity! Bad, bad, evil gun! Bad bad, people who like them!

But wouldn't it be great to have one again? Just for nostalgia and because it's so good to shoot and cheap, and adaptable, and...?

NO! Must resist the urge! Be mindful of the children. THINK of the children! Feel the guilt! (Where's Arthur Dimmesdale when you need him?)

But...the sweet siren call of 5.56 from a modular and lightweight rifle you know so well...

Lord, take this cup of temptation from my lips!



Anyhoooo... Looks like you made your choice so there's no more reason to subject everyone to your vacillating.